You avoid the Alamo terminal fee only if you don't take their airport bus, Bob. Unless you have a friend to drop you off, you will pay more for a taxi than you avoid in fees. And you still have to get back to the terminal when you drop off the car. You can probably lie about how you arrived and avoid this fee (they don't watch who gets off the bus) but I feel better not chancing it.

If you use Thrifty (anywhere) be very careful to inspect your car and get any damage noted on the contract. I have twice been billed for minor damage that I didn't do, and they added on a rental fee for the time the car was in for repairs! I've never had this problem with the big 3.